Councillor Dick Tonge presented a report which provided an assessment in advance of draft proposals going to
Council to set a budget for 2015/16 and the impact on Council Tax,
rents, fees and charges, the capital programme, schools overall
budgets, as well as Council reserves.

The Leader also invited the following Members to
speak to the item: Councillor Simon Killane, as Chair of Overview
& Scrutiny Chair; Councillor Christine Crisp, as Chair of
Health Select Committee; Councillor Jon Hubbard, as Leader of the
Liberal Democrat Group and chairman of Children’s Select
Committee; Councillor Roy While, as members of the Financial
Planning Task Group; and Councillor Chris Caswill.

In the course of the presentation and the
discussion, the issues discussed

included: the consultations with the representatives
of the Trade Unions; that the results of public consultation would
be published in time for consideration by Council; that the work of
the Scrutiny Task Group was praised; the benefit of involving the
individual Select Committees; that the Liberal Democrat Group would
present their amendments to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee;
and that whilst some base budgets may be protected, that additional
demographic and policy changes would increase demand on
revenue.

In
response to a question from Councillor Chris Caswill, Carolyn
Godfrey, Corporate Director, stated that although Ofsted had taken
over responsibility for an aspect of their work, resulting in a
reduction in the budget, Early Years Advisory Teachers remained a
key support role and there would not be reductions in frontline
support.

Resolved:

That Cabinet recommend to Council that
it:

(a)Endorses the update of the Financial
Plan for 2015/16.

(b)Approves the savings and investment
proposals summarised at Sections 9 and 7 respectively of this
report and at Appendix 1, to provide a net revenue budget for
2015/16 of £314.983 million.

(c)To:

(i)Freeze Wiltshire Council’s element
of the Band D council tax for 2015/16 £1,222.43, as
calculated in accordance with statute, as set out in Section 10 of
this report.

(ii)Set the Council’s total net
expenditure budget for 2015/16 at £314.983
million.

(iii)Set a 2.2% increase for dwelling rents
in accordance with rent restructuring;

(iv)Set the HRA Budget for 2015/16 as set
out at Appendix 1G of this report.

(v)That all other service charges related
to the HRA be increased by 2.2%, including garage
rents.

(vi)Approve the Capital programme proposed
at Appendix 1F of this report.

(vii)Set the changes in fees and charges set
out in detail at Section 8 of and at Appendix 1H of this
report.

Reason for Decision:

To enable the Council to set its revenue, capital,
housing revenue accounts, fees and charges, levels of reserves and
resultant Council Tax for 2015/16 to then issue Council Tax and
rent bills.To
provide the Council with a strong business and financial plan for
sustainable delivery for 2013-17.